Ice creeper



Patented Aug. 20, 1946 [UNITED I V I ICE CREEPER 'iMichael L.-.Gcorg.opoulos,;WashingtonyD; :0.

Application December 30, 1944;"Serial Nol-57 0,726

6:,Olaims. 1

This application is a continuation in part of application- Serial No. 4974'63, filed August 5, 1943.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel safety device for walking on ice or hard snow, which can be attached to either shoes 01 overshoes, and which is not permanently secured to the shoe but can readily be removed when desired.

It is an object of my invention to provide a device of this character which can be securely attached to and readily detached from the shoe or overshoe, and which may have merely straps and buckles or other simple fastening means, and which is believed especially suited for Army use in northern climates where ice is likely to be encountered.

It is an especial object of my invention to provide ice creepers with the straps arranged to permit of the foot being inserted as in a slipper to expedite the attachment or detachment of the creepers from the shoe or overshoe.

I attain these and other objectives of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my ice creepers having the sole strap made in hingedly connected sections;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawing I provide a sole plate consisting of hingedly connected, preferably metal, sections Ila and I'll) which are connected by the hinge I'lc. These sole sections are each provided with a plurality of suitable prongs l9. Attached to the side edges of sections Fla and I'll) by rivets, or other suitable means, are the straps 2| which are each provided with loops or rings 2la. At the front end of sole section I'Ib is a loop 24 through which a strap 22 is threaded and which strap in turn is threaded through the loops or ring Ma. and then extends for a sufficient length to permit of its being fastened around the ankle and either tied or fastened by a suitable buckle (not shown).

For military use especially it is important that a form of ice creepers be provided which can be very quickly attached to or detached from the foot or overshoe and this invention is believed to admit of more rapid attachment and detachment than is possible with any ice creepers now in use.

rear portion of' 'sectio'n I l'l -'-and through this loop a strap (not shown) may be inserted and fastened around the foot, but preferably this strap and loop may be omitted to make fastening of the device to the foot or shoe in place more rapid.

What I claim is:

1. In a quickly attachable and detachable ice creeper for use over either shoes or overshoes, the combination of a pair of substantially rigid plates seating over the sole of the shoe or overshoe, and each having a multiplicity of prongs, a transverse hinge connecting said plates to give flexibility, said hinge being disposed approximately midway of the entire area covered by said plates to permit of folding the plates in overlying position for convenience in transportation when detached, and a strap interlaced over the top of the shoe to permit the foot to be quickly slid into place under the strap, loops secured near the edges of the plates and through which loops the strap isthreaded, the strap terminating in free ends of suflicient length to be fastened around the heel and over the ank to secure the device to the foot.

2. In ice creepers of the type described and adapted for quick attachment and detachment by the wearer, the combination of a pair of hingedly connected metal plates of approximately the same area, each having a multiplicity of projecting prongs, the hinged-connection of said plates being transversely disposed at approximately the central portion of the sole of the shoe or overshoe, a strap interlaced over the upper portion of the foot, and loops carried by the plates through which it is threaded, the strap having free ends adapted to be secured around the heel and ankle to permit of quick attachment or detachment of the device from the foot.

3. In ice creepers of the type described adapted for quick attachment and detachment,

-the combination of a pair of plates of substantially like area, each carrying prongs to engage ice, snow or muddy ground, a transverse hinge connecting said plates and positioned under the central portion of the sole of the shoe, said plates being foldable into compact form for transportation when detached, a plurality of loops carried by the edge portions of said plates, a strap extending through said loops and interlaced over the crown of the foot to permit of quick insertion of the foot, said strap terminating in free ends of sufficient length to be fastened around the heel and over the ankle to quickly and detachably secure the ice creepers in place.

4; In ice creepers of the type described, the

V vcombination of flexibly connected pronged plates of substantially the same size and adapted to be seated'over the soles of shoes or overshoes, short straps affixed to the edge portions of said plates and carrying loops, a strap interlaced through said loops and permitting the foot to be quickly slid in:pl'ace' on the plates for lacing, the free ends of the strap being of sufilcient length to extend around the heel and ankle and permitting of quick attachment or detachment and tially rigid plates of similar area seating .over the sole of the shoe or overshoe, said plates having ice and snow engaging elements, hinged means disposed transversely of the sole and operatively connecting said plates and permitting 4, the necessary degree of relative movement of same, and one long strap interlaced to receive the foot, and engaged in the strap anchoring means, strap anchoring means carried by the aforesaid plates, the strap having free end for securing the device to the foot without the use of buckles. 6. In ice creepers of the type described, the combination of a pair of flexible hinged plates seated over the sole of a shoe, said plates being of similar area to permit of their: being folded compactly when removed for transportation, each of the plates having projecting prongs, a plurality of loops carried by the plates including a front loop and side loops, a relatively long strap interlaced through the aforesaid loops to permit the foot to be quickly slid into place under the interlaced strap, the strap terminating in free ends engageable around the heel and ankle to quickly fasten the device in place without the use of buckles, 1

MICHAEL L. GEORGOPQULos; 

